CRANN researcher and Bionanosience laboratory Manager, Dr Despina Bazou became on December 5-10 2010, the first researcher from an Irish Institute to take part in parabolic flights in Bordeaux, France. In these flights, the effect of 0 G i.e. the weightless environment experienced in space is simulated. Her experiments involved studying the effect of a zero-gravity environment on the agglomeration of particles and nanorods using ultrasound standing waves. It is hoped that this research will lead to a better understanding of cell-cell adhesion and tumour formation, the principal interest of Dr. Bazou. Dr Bazou is an active participant in the INSPIRE Bionano Strand and was a key member on the organizing committee for INSPIRE BioNano Postgraduate Research Workshop which was held in the Conway Institute in UCD on October 20 and 21, 2010.